A new map shows the Roman roads of Britain laid out in the iconic style of the London tube, and Cambridge is on it!

The map shows the routes taken by marching legions as they criss-crossed the country in characteristic straight lines. Cambridge, then known as Duroliponte, is marked out two 'stops' up from Londinium on the green Ermine Street route.

Duroliponte, which is Latin for the fort at the bridge, also sits on the orange line Via Devana, on the way between Camulodunum (now Colchester) and Deva (now Chester).

When the Romans travelled north to Cambridge, they came over the Gog Magog hills and then plotted a straight route to Castle Hill, along what is now Hills Road, Regent Street, St Andrew’s Street and Bridge Street.

Castle Hill was the highest point around and one of the few places where the river could be forded at a narrow point with hard ground on either side.

The bridge, on the site of the existing Magdalene Bridge, is thought to be the site of the oldest location for a crossing in the city and is the 'bridge' in the name Cambridge.

After heading up Castle Hill, the Romans then made their way up what is now Huntingdon Road.

The city, especially around Castle Hill, is littered with Roman remains and other interesting archaeological finds.

Writing on his blog, Sasha said: “I had to do some simplifying and make some tough choices on which cities to include. Again I tried to include larger settlements or forts that were mentioned in more than one primary source.

Workers at Kettles Yard in Castle Street uncovered Roman remains while renovating the site in 2015

“Unlike the original Roman roads map, I was more faithful to the actual geographical location of cities. Cluttered areas around Hampshire and the Midlands did have to be shifted around somewhat.”

So think about that next time you’re walking up Hills Road or climbing Castle Hill. Modern Cambridge is not all that far from its Roman past.